Russia continued to be one of the most popular topics in the US presidential elections last week. The media was full of articles about Russian interference in the election process, but this time many journalists drew readers’ attention to the fact that the US itself frequently meddles in different foreign elections, in particular America widely resorted to such an instrument under Hilary Clinton as State Secretary. Moreover, during the Cold War attempts to influence the internal politics of a rival country were an intrinsic part of the then existing system and even after the collapse of the Soviet Union the US, according to the press, was involved in the Boris Yeltsin’s campaign in 1996 when three American political consultants, who allegedly were closely connected with the White House, helped Putin’s predecessor to win over the Communists.

Playing the Russian card former CIA director Michael Morell openly supported the Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and accused Donald Trump of being recruited as “an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation”, since a career intelligence officer Mr. Putin, from Morell’s point of view, “played upon Mr. Trump’s vulnerabilities by complimenting him”. This characteristic was highly resonant in the media. Trump answered that it is just “an effort to shift attention away from the Democratic nominee’s bad judgment”. This cross-fire became another demonstration of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s words who told NBC that “regretfully, Russia-bashing is becoming a habit in American elections”. Meanwhile, a number of respectable US observers called for real debates on US foreign policy and policy towards Russia in particular, instead of a simple spinning of the facts and demonization of Vladimir Putin.

The Summer Olympics Games started in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with about 280 Russian athletes taking part. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its “no” to a blanket ban and announced the participation list for Russian athletes. Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, determinedly rejected the so-called “nuclear option” claiming that its consequences are “death and devastation” while “the Olympic Movement stands for life and the construction of a better future”. Mr. Bach also lashed out at the World Anti-Doping Agency blaming it for the chaos ahead of the Games. Nevertheless, on Sunday the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to totally bar the Russian team. Considering that the IOC said “the cynical “collateral damage” approach is not what the Olympic movement stands for” and allowed Russian sportsmen to compete, the IPC decision raises questions as to the values the Paralympic movement stands for.

As for the Syrian conflict, speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon the US president said: “I’m not confident that we can trust the Russians or Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of hostilities”. Commenting on Obama’s remarks Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov pointed out the US’s unwillingness to work on equal footing and asserted that “confidence in relations between Russia and the United States can be restored only if colleagues in Washington take an honest and responsible approach towards the entire agenda of bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington” instead of deliberately undermining the pillars of the relations. Besides, Russia continues its humanitarian operation in Aleppo with Russian soldiers risking their lives as it occurred with five men who heroically died in a shot down helicopter which was delivering aid to Aleppo residents.

Russia-Turkey relations

As Turkey’s relations with Europe and the United States are strained by the fallout from its failed coup, President Tayyip Erdogan travels to Russia on Tuesday to meet Vladimir Putin in a trip he may hope will give the West pause for thought.